Fire life net



July 21, 1925. 1,546,399

W. J. MQYLAN I FIRE LIFE NET Filed July 26, 1924 2 sheetsshet 1 5'2,LEE] INVENTOR. "(J/Fitzy1601 i ATTORNEY.

July 21, 1925.

W. J. MOYLAN FIRE LIFE NET Filed July 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. fKJ/Hoylaze,

ATTORNEY.

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Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. MOYLAN OF ABILENE, TEXAS.

FIRE LIFE NET.

Application filed July 26, 1924. Serial No. 728,423.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. MOYLAN, a subject of the King of England,residing at Abilene, in the county of Taylor and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Life Nets, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to life saving apparatus and pertainsparticularly to the class of fire life nets.

The primary object of this invention lies in the provision, in a manneras hereinafter set forth, of a life saving net adapted to be quicklyspread across the face of a building, to receive therein anyone leapingfrom a window thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, of a life net intended to be permanently kept ina folded condition at the front of a building and so attached theretothat it may be quickly and easily unfolded and spread out across theface of the build ing in the event of a fire and the cutting off of allother means of exit except the windows of the building.

A still further object of this invention is the provision, in a manneras hereinafter set forth, of a life net having means for engagement witha supporting bar adapted to be permanently fixed across the face of abuilding so that the same may be held outwardly therefrom at an angle toreceive therein any person who might jump from a window of the building.

A final object of this invention is the provision, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, of a life net of inexpensive character, strong,durable, easily and quickly arranged in working position, andinexpensive to manufacture and set up in position.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, with the understandingthat the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with theshowing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as suchchanges and modifications mark no material departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device embodying this inventionshown as applied and spread ready for use.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the device showing the same folded and inposition within the protective housing provided therefor, the housingbeing shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the device showingthe manner in which the same is connected to the supporting bar carriedacross the side of the building.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the net and associate partsthereof, taken when the net is in spread position.

Figure 5 is a View showing the use of a cable support for the netinstead of a rigid bar support shown in the other views.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views ofthe drawings, a building of any ordinary construction is indicated at 1having the usual complement of, windows 2 and door 3.

Secured across the face of the building at about the height of thesecond story thereof, is a series of spaced right angular brackets 4 thevertical portion thereof being secured to the building by means of boltsor screws 5, and the outwardly extending portion carries across theupper side thereof the bar 6. This bar, as shown in Figure 1, extendsacross the face of the building andacross the top of the horizontalportion of the bracket and is secured thereto by means of bolts orrivets 7 At one end of the bar 6 is a housing 8 having a roof 9thereover and extending, as shown, from; a point above the bar 6 to theground. The bar 6, as shown, extends into the housing 8 directly beneaththe roof 9, and this side through which the bar 6 extends has a hingedclosure 10 therefor. The other three walls of the housing are securelyclosed against the weather. It will be seen that the closure 10 does notextend the entire distance from the ground to the roof 9, but whenclosed there is a space 11 left between the top of the closure and theunder side of the roof 9. The door or closure 10 is thus free to swingwithout interference by the rod 6.

Supported upon the bar 6 is a life net 12 which not may be constructedor woven of any suitable material, and this net-is of a width suflicientto extend a substantial distance out from the face of the building whendrawn out from the supporting bar 6. The edges of the net 12 are turnedover as at 13 and have passed through the turned over portionsstrengthening ropes or cables 14 The upper longitudinal edge of the net12 has at spaced intervals, cutout portions 15 toexpose the reinforcingcable 14, and these exposed portions of the cable 14 each has engagedthereover onehooked end 16 of a spiral spring 17. The other hooked end18 of the spiral spring 17 engages a looped end 19 of a link 2O, theother end of which is hooked as at 21 to engage over the bar 6. Asbefore stated there is a series of these springs and hooks along theupper longitudinal edge of the net to engage over the bar 6.

At each end of the net 12 upon the outer longitudinal edge thereof,there is secured a pair of holding ropes 23, by .1 e-ans of whichfiremen or other persons may hold the net out from the building to catcha person jumping therefrom. 1

When the net 12 is not in use, it is folded in the housing 8, by slidingthe hooks 21 along the bar 6 into the housing which will thusautomatically fold the net in position 0 and when the same is wanted foruse it is only necessary to open the housing, grasp the forward edge ofthe net and draw the same out across the face of the building, the hooks21 acting as guides as they, slide along the bar 6.

If desired, the rigid bar 6 may be replaced by the flexible cable 2dshown in Figure 5, this cable may be supported across the buildingthrough the loops 25 carried by the member 26. This construction wouldgive a more resilient action to the net and assist the springs 17,relieving some of the strain which would be placed thereon when a bodylanded in the net.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that a very novel anduseful fire net is provided which is always handy and ready for use anddoes not require the large number of persons to handle the san'ie as isrequired by the fire nets at present in use and further, the entire sideof a building is covered by this net so that-there would. be no chanceof a person failing to land in the net after leaping from the building,

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim is:

In a fire escape of the character set forth, a rigid bar adapted toextend across the face of a building, a life net of substantial lengthto extend acrosssaid building, hook elements secured along one edge ofsaid net and adapted to engage over and slide along said bar when thesaid net is drawn across the face of the building for use, bracketsupports secured to said building and supporting said bar from itsunderside to allow said hook elements to pass freely therealong, and

spring elements interposed between said hooks and the edge of said net.

In testimony whereof, I an X my signature hereto WVILLIAM J. MOYLAN.

